Comparative genomics of mutualistic viruses of Glyptapanteles parasitic wasps.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polydnaviruses, double-stranded DNA viruses with segmented genomes, have evolved as obligate endosymbionts of parasitoid wasps. Virus particles are replication deficient and produced by female wasps from proviral sequences integrated into the wasp genome. These particles are co-injected with eggs into caterpillar hosts, where viral gene expression facilitates parasitoid survival and, thereby, survival of proviral DNA. Here we characterize and compare the encapsidated viral genome sequences of bracoviruses in the family Polydnaviridae associated with Glyptapanteles gypsy moth parasitoids, along with near complete proviral sequences from which both viral genomes are derived.

Results

The encapsidated Glyptapanteles indiensis and Glyptapanteles flavicoxis bracoviral g

SUBMITTER: Desjardins CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2646287 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature